Deliveroo

Deliveroo operates a three-sided online marketplace that connects consumers, restaurants and grocers, and riders, fulfilling food and grocery orders typically in under 30 minutes. Founded in 2013 in London by Will Shu after he noticed that restaurants in the city largely lacked delivery options, the company now runs across 10 markets worldwide with approximately 160,000 restaurant and grocery partners. Its partners include Marks and Spencer, Waitrose and Whole Foods Market.

Engineering work is concentrated in machine learning, logistics optimization, route optimization, marketplace platform development, and demand prediction and preparation time estimation. At the centre of these efforts is Frank, an intelligent machine learning system that powers Deliveroo's logistics technology, continuously learning and refining estimates of restaurant preparation times and route efficiency at different times of day.

Beyond the core marketplace, Deliveroo operates Editions, delivery-only kitchens that allow restaurants to expand into new areas without the cost of physical storefronts, and Hop, sites dedicated to rapid on-demand grocery delivery. The company's origins are grounded in operational detail: Will Shu served as Deliveroo's first rider, personally delivering orders during the company's first year.